Archives for the Month of April, 2005

Dan Lycett of the always interesting Breakingthings is organising ‘Glitch:Aesthetics’ an event dedicated to Glitch Art , the Visual manifestations of computer malfunction and Data Corruption. Glitch has played a big part in the granular synthesis scene in recent years, most notably in the esoteric alchemical drones of Coil and the crunching post-industrial dance of Autechre. Now it seems the visual glitch is finally getting the attention it deserves!

Heavyweight glitch commando BEFLIX will presenting some of his new work and discussing the methodologies behind it.

Waveform has some digital re/de/constructions of classic synths (windows only) including a remake of the legendary Granulab – a program that uses granular synthesis. Granular synthesis is the generation of thousands of short sonic grains which are combined linearly to form large-scale audio events.

“All sound is an integration of grains, of elementary sonic particles, of sonic quanta.” -Xenakis (1971).

Waveform also has beep-based theremin called beepbox.

Worldprocessor abstracts and visualises imagined and real global data to attempt to do justice to the term ‘political’ and ‘geo-political’ globe.

Quasimondo supplies subtle and complex permutations of organic geometry with his Ornamism applet made with Proce55ing. Multi faceted-mirrored symmetries produce radiolarian like creatures that spin and reconfigure themselves beautifully and hypnotically

The Journal for Patterns Recognised is a new PDF journal project dedicated to the study of distorted pattern recognition – it looks to be yet another fine project sprouting from the Socialfiction fraternity.

‘the long history of research into speculative modes of knowledge practised by writers, artists and revolutionaries of all sorts, methods for experimental pattern recognition have always been important (i.e. cut-ups, scrying, generative walks, hallucinatory substances). The Journal for Patterns Recognised seeks to widen the understanding of these methodologies.’

Dataisnature is forever interested in patterns of all kinds from the obvious optical art of Vasarely to the random chaotic rhythms concocted by a slighty out of kilter electric Indian cooling fan! Patterns are everywhere, but not always obvious. Often occluded, they are perceptible to a trained eye/ear from a certain discipline. The probable reason I hear the rhythmic patterns in the chaotic cooling fan is because of my adoration for trance dervish drumming music! Most common of all, are patterns found in nature – from spiral galaxies in logarithmic formation to shells covered in Cellular Automata!

‘the tutorials draw from examples of current research in biology, chemistry, earth science and physics. For each experimental system presented, students study scientific models of microscopic processes that bring about the formation of the macroscopic pattern observed. These models share a common theme: random behaviour at a microscopic scale can lead to the formation of patterns at the macroscopic scale. These models are introduced using simple hands-on demonstrations–sometimes using props such as a checkerboard set and coins to flip–and are then explored further using computer simulation. Every simulation provides opportunities to explore the macroscopic consequences of changes in the system’s behaviour at the microscopic level.’

And surely Deleuze & Guattari would have enjoyed experiment 20 – Building a Rhizotron and Germinating Seeds. ‘A rhizotron is a clear-walled chamber through which one can observe roots as they grow ‘. There are also a set of java applets and downloadables to go with the experiements

The code of life, DNA, has often been used extensively as data structure for making art, often in the form of re-mapping the stream of code into something audio or visual. Stanza, creator of a series of playful genetic art-objects and virtual musical instruments says that Genomixer is:

‘A series of online artworks inspired by the human genome sequence and developed from DNA profile which are sequenced from my blood. The online artworks are investigations into genetic codes mapped and re assembled online. The series enables a cross reference all the code on the genome sequence allowing you to intermix or breed your own variable; you can look at the new mix of chromosomes in real time; on line. You can also keep and print this pattern from the website.

Highlights include the chromosonic Generative DNA audio system, Mutator and DNA Space – A 3 d generative space playing through variations of dna in a morphing 3 d architecture.